Golden State Warriors forward Al Harrington crashes into Los Angeles Lakers forward Ronny Turiaf during the first quarter of their basketball exhibition game at the Stan Sheriff Center, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007 in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) less

Golden State Warriors forward Al Harrington crashes into Los Angeles Lakers forward Ronny Turiaf during the first quarter of their basketball exhibition game at the Stan Sheriff Center, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007 in ... more

Golden State Warriors' Marco Belinelli, left, of Italy dribbles past Zalgiris' Mantas Kalnietis (9) during the first half of an exhibition NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Monday, Oct. 15, 2007.(AP ... more

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez

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Harrington could be benched

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Don't put any money on Al Harrington being in the starting lineup on opening night. Same goes for Kelenna Azubuike - or any other Warrior, for that matter.

Just when it seemed like the team was easing into a playing rotation, coach Don Nelson reshuffled his deck Monday. The coach says he is planning on experimenting with some lineups during the regular season to maximize the return.

And at the top of the list is using Harrington - whom Nelson repeatedly called his best player in training camp - as his sixth man.

"That'd be like a perfect position for him," Nelson said before Monday's 107-88 exhibition win over Lithuanian club Zalgiris Kaunas. "Bring him off the bench where he can just be the gunslinger. He has the ability to stretch defenses and he's really aggressive."

Harrington started at both power forward and center for the Warriors last season before landing on the bench during their first-round playoff series against Dallas. That's when Nelson first began thinking of him in a sixth-man role, and he approached Harrington about the potential move Monday.

Nothing is guaranteed given Nelson's fickle nature, but Harrington said he is ready to embrace whatever role his coach has for him.

"If that's what we need for me to be productive, for me to get the best out of the team, I'm with it. I've been a firecracker off the bench before," Harrington said. "I know I can flourish in this role - just give me the opportunity and I can go out and do whatever it takes."

Harrington was the runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2003-04 when he backed up forwards Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal in Indiana.

It's likely that he would be in a similar situation for the Warriors as the first big man off the bench, whether it's at the forward spots or at center.

"He's never, since I've known (him), had a bad idea," Barnes said of Nelson. "Our job is just to play. With me and Al - if it's him starting, me starting, neither of us starting, both of us starting - whenever we go out there, just be ready."

"It's an experiment," Harrington added. "It might not work, but I think I'm going to make it work."

That's also how Nelson is approaching his ever-changing guard rotation.

Before training camp, he essentially proclaimed rookie Marco Belinelli as his starting shooting guard and wanted Monta Ellis to focus on being the backup point guard.

But Kelenna Azubuike emerged as the top player with Ellis hurt and Belinelli going through the typical rookie struggles.

Now, Nelson is saying that Azubuike might come off the bench despite his impressive training camp, that Ellis likely will play alongside Baron Davis, and that the coach probably overhyped Belinelli's immediate impact.

"What I'm going to do is what I think is best to help us win, not necessarily who won the job," Nelson said. "Right now, hands down, Azubuike is my best '2' guard, but Monta hasn't had a chance to participate too much. ...

"He's got another seven to 10 days before he plays probably, so he's virtually going to miss all of the preseason. And it's hard to teach a guy during the regular season. So we'll just have to live with whatever that situation is."

Briefly:Guard Troy Hudson joined the infirmary with a sore left groin and is day-to-day. Center Andris Biedrins (sprained big toe) did some drill work and forward Stephane Lasme (sprained ankle) hopes to practice today. ... Rookie Kosta Perovic made his debut and started at center, finishing with two points and one rebound in 15 minutes. Belinelli also made his first start and had 19 points in playing all 48 minutes. ... The Warriors will hold an open practice at Oracle Arena at 6 p.m. Oct. 28.